Case Files: Indian Island Deaths
Detective: Paige Trutna
Date of Case: 9/19/17
Suspect: Philip Lombard
Description:
Tall (6’0″), 189 pounds, well-built, fairly attractive, caramel-brown hair, “soldier for hire”, hasn’t had a job for a while, quite low on funds, sighted with a revolver before leaving for Soldier Island
Evidence:
Was quoted to say “but self preservation is a man’s first duty”(pg. 67)- He doesn’t hold human life particularly sacred, it doesn’t seem like he would be effected too much by murdering someone. He even left some of his comrades to die so that he could survive.
He said “I think I’ll get out of this one” (pg. 192). He is known to have been in some tight places, which is why, he claims, he brought his revolver to the island. Perhaps he was expecting a sport of trouble on Soldier Island…
Says that “If I were to commit one or more murders, it would be solely for what I could get out of them” (pg. 169). We didn’t hear of anything specifically, but what’s to stop us from assuming he wasn’t getting something out of these murders. Perhaps money, pride, or even just pure satisfaction.
Refused to give us his revolver, saying “I’ll be damned if I’ll give up my revolver” (pg. 205). If he truly weren’t the murderer, he should be willing to give up the revolver and lock it up, just like some of the other weapons.
“There wasn’t much he drew the line at really…” (pg. 7). Lombard is a man who is known to enjoy adventure, and he doesn’t limit himself much. It’s a possibility that he would enjoy setting up an unsolvable murder mystery…
Motives:
Philip Lombard is known for his disrespect of human life. He considers others, especially others that aren’t as physically fit as he is, useless. If he has enemies that get in his way, there is no doubt that he could take them out. He could also potentially be swayed by an amount of money, which makes us think that if he had a reason to kill these people, there is a high possibility that he would do it.
Case Files: Indian Island Deaths
Innocent or Guilty: TBD. Could go either way.
Detective: Paige Trutna
Date of Case: 9/19/17
Suspect: Vera Claythorne
Description:
Black Hair, 5’7″, 128 pounds, attractive, was a teacher, was a governess, now is a secretary, her last charge as a governess died, and she almost died trying to save him.
Evidence:
Was quoted to say “death was for…the other people” (pg. 89). Perhaps she knew that she wasn’t going to die, maybe even because she was the murderer.
“You must keep cool. This isn’t like you. You’ve always have excellent nerves” (pg. 107). Maybe she was nervous because she was killing people, and she thought they were going to find out…
Made the assumption that the people on the island were animals, saying “we’re hardly human anymore” (pg. 248). If she is assuming that, then maybe she is saying that she is turning into something because of the murders.
The quote “I’d stake my reputation on your sanity” was said about her on page 168. If someone was willing to go that far, than perhaps she isn’t the murderer.
Motives:
Vera Claythorne is known for having a charge die in her care while she was a governess. She also had a husband who couldn’t be with her. Both of these things could be possible motivation for murder. Throughout the manuscript, we see her sanity slowly slip away from her, which could be cause for murder. However, her sanity slips because she is so afraid she is going to be killed. A killer wouldn’t be so afraid of being murdered.